Entire home

History-filled lakefront home with dock, fire pit, fireplace, & kayaks - dogs OK

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Interior
Exterior
5 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, Internet, bed sheets
Interior
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms6 bathroomsSleeps 14557 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

History-filled lakefront home with dock, fire pit, fireplace, & kayaks - dogs OK

Casa Maria

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You don’t always book a world-famous mobster’s hideout in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, but when you do, make it Casa Maria, built in 1916 and the former hangout of Al Capone and his men in the 1930s. With dozens of stories and local legends about these notorious gangsters and how they used the property to hide from federal agents, you’ll fall in love with the history of the home, as well as the modern amenities that make for such a spectacular stay.

Entertainment opportunities are endless - there are miles of paved biking, hiking, walking, and snowshoe trails for year-round outdoor exercise, and ATV and snowmobile trail access is less than a half-mile away. In the summer, grab one of the two provided kayaks or water floats via the private dock and explore Spider Lake, play a game of corn hole, or gather around the fire pit to roast marshmallows or make camp pies, with forks and camp-pie makers thoughtfully provided. In the winter, grab one of the two pairs of provided snowshoes, go cross-country skiing or hit the slopes in the UP at any of several resorts around 25 miles away.

Any time of year, take advantage of the ice cream maker, watch a movie on the old-school VCR, with lots of Disney classics on hand, stream the latest release, play some music on the CD player, play a board game, or pop in a DVD. Finally, Mercer is the loon capital of the world, so a stop in town to get your picture taken with Clare D’Loon is a must.

As for the home itself, it’s a true standout in the Northwoods. Dog-friendly, family-friendly, and the perfect spot to reconnect with friends, it sits right on Spider Lake with a lovely water view from the large patio and all three levels inside. Hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, cabin-modern furnishings, and pine-paneled walls and ceilings enhance that cabin vibe. There are lots of cozy gathering spaces, a full, well-equipped kitchen, and several dining tables to accommodate the whole group. Downstairs you’ll find another family room with the TV and even more space to spread out. Thoughtful family-friendly amenities include a high chair, two cribs, two Pack ’N Plays, kid’s games, a changing table, and baby gates. At bedtime, five well-appointed rooms guarantee a restful night’s sleep.

With no light pollution, you can enjoy a sky full of stars and even catch the Northern Lights at certain times of year. The solitude, lake views, and the haunting call of loons at night create a truly magical atmosphere—the only thing missing is you

THINGS TO KNOW
Streaming services are available with guest accounts.
A double sofa bed offers extra sleeping space.
This property is managed by Vacasa Wisconsin LLC.

If you are bringing a dog on your trip, the pet fee is already included in your quote when selecting ‘Yes’ to pets. If you would like to add more dogs, please contact us. The pet fee is per stay and ranges between $150 and $200, depending on the bedroom count, and will apply for each additional dog.

Parking notes: There is free parking available for 6 vehicles.

Dock details:

Please note: this home resides in a noise-sensitive area and the owners participate in our Good Neighbor protection program. Our smart home technology will alert our team if excessive decibel or occupancy levels are detected, allowing us to reach out directly with a reminder of maximum occupancy and quiet hours. This technology is privacy compliant, and only monitors the presence of decibels and devices-not any personal conversation or information. Thank you for supporting our efforts to be good neighbors!

Damage waiver: The total cost of your reservation for this Property includes a nightly damage waiver fee, plus tax if applicable (the “Damage Waiver”). (A discount may be applied for stays of 28 nights or longer, if permitted.) The Damage Waiver covers you for up to $3,000 of accidental damage to the Property or its contents (such as furniture, fixtures, and appliances) as long as you report the incident to the host prior to checking out. The Damage Waiver fee eliminates the need for a traditional security deposit.
More information can be downloaded from the "Rental Agreement" on the checkout page.

Due to local laws or HOA requirements, guests must be at least 21 years of age to book. Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the reservation.

Property manager

Vacasa of Wisconsin

Languages

English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Internet access

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 5.5 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Firepit
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 6,000 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Note from host: Dogs only. Max of 2.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

Property is also known as

80391

About the area

Map
Mercer, WI

What's nearby

  • Grand Portage Lake - 9 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Mercer Depot Museum - 12 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Lake of the Falls - 22 min drive - 15.0 km
  • Plunkett Lake - 28 min drive - 15.6 km
  • Nokomis Lake - 35 min drive - 23.2 km

Getting around

  • Ironwood, MI (IWD-Gogebic County) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wolf's Den - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Around The Corner Pub - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪The Pines Restaurant - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Liberty Way Tap House - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Beaver Lodge Resort - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is History-filled lakefront home with dock, fire pit, fireplace, & kayaks - dogs OK pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at History-filled lakefront home with dock, fire pit, fireplace, & kayaks - dogs OK?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at History-filled lakefront home with dock, fire pit, fireplace, & kayaks - dogs OK?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is History-filled lakefront home with dock, fire pit, fireplace, & kayaks - dogs OK located?

This family-friendly Mercer holiday home is located on the waterfront, 3 mi (4.8 km) from Grand Portage Lake, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Carow Park and Mercer Depot Museum. Circle Lily Lake and Brandt Lake are also within 9 miles (15 km).

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History-filled lakefront home with dock, fire pit, fireplace, & kayaks - dogs OK Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jen A., Fontana, WI

Anderson Family Vacation
All of us (8 adults) loved the property and all of the space that there was in the house!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Shelley B.

Friends getaway
Loved everything about the area, trails, eating, etc. CasaMaria was top notch 5 Stars!!!! So beautiful and accommodating!!!! Will recommend and will return!!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Friends get away
The place was great! We loved everything except the AC doesn’t cool the upstairs and made for uncomfortable sleeping.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael V.

Excellent house
This home has probably ruined all other rental homes for us. Plenty of room for everyone. Having full bathrooms attached to each bedroom is so nice for couples and multiple families. The outdoor landscaping of the house is incredible, not pictured enough in the listing. Gorgeous sunsets on the lake. Two outdoor fire pits to enjoy, plenty of seating. This listing is an incredible value and guaranteed to make your vacation great like it did with ours.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Ashley S.

A couple kinks but overall wonderful experience.
Overall the house was spacious and wonderful. The property was very nice also. I did think Vacasa specifically fell short in pre-trip communication responsiveness and in communicating and fulfilling onsite needs re below. Because this house has no garbage disposal, all food scraps and left overs had to be thrown into the trash. When we arrived the trash cans in the garage were completely full and we had to make several inquiries to get someone to come and empty them. Then no one came the rest of the trip, which left a very stinky and full garbage can situation in the garage by the time we left today. I think there should be a more frequent trash removal service throughout the stay.

8/10 Good

John Z.

Disliked: Communication
Beautiful Property
The house was very clean and beautiful, with gorgeous lake views. Had a hard time receiving good information from property management company, both prior to our trip as well as while we were there. It would have been nice to know that the public boat landing was more of a canoe/kayak landing rather than a boat landing. We were unable to launch our boat, which was disappointing. The only private landing that we could find was at a resort that wanted to charge us $200 to launch our boat, because they only allow non-guests to launch on Saturdays. Over all we still had a great time.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wendy H.

Disliked: Communication
Beautiful views
The property was beautiful. I would only make a few suggestions. I fell into the fire pit seating area because I didn’t see the stairs at night. Maybe installing a light to shine on the stairs would prevent anyone else from getting hurt. Also, I would mention in the rental ad that you have to climb numerous cement stairs to get to the lake. Anyone with knee problems/elderly will have issues climbing up and down to the water. We also had to pay $200 to launch our boat, so that is an expense we would have liked to have known about in advance. Overall, I would recommend this rental.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jayne L.

Early Autumn Bike Trip
Casa Maria provided a wonderful respite and opportunity for life long friends to reconnect in the solitude of the north woods. The home was spacious beyond imagining. There ARE in fact five (5) dedicated bedrooms (although only 4 bedrooms are photographed and part of the 3D tour) each with its own bathroom. There is also a half bath off the foyer/kitchen area. We thoroughly enjoyed the landscaped patio area with fire pit (some wood provided) and the loon serenade - some coyote baying as well. A couple of things worth noting: 1) GPS indicates you’ve arrived at your destination a mile or more before you actually do, 2) you travel down a gravel, pot-holed, and steep drive to reach Casa Maria, 3) the keypad to access the house is on the garage service door, not the overhead door, and 4) bring bottled water to brew coffee (tap water is very iron tasting). Highly recommend biking the trail from Manitowish Waters to Boulder Junction, hiking at WinMan Park, lunching at Dixie’s, and dining at Aberdeen. Our adult group of 10 is already planning next year’s stay. The low score for communication is because there is NO property manager on site. You must communicate with Vacasa, and they clearly have no eyes on the property. I had multiple text chats and a phone conversation prior to our reservation trying to get definitive information about the fifth bedroom. They simply regurgitated what was written in the listing.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

kathy c.

Disliked: Communication
Family vacation 2023
We stayed at this location twice now. First time had no issues was wonderful. This time garbage was left so garage smelled and I had to call. They picked up same day. Basement fridge was broken and leaking. Upstairs air was not working correctly called no response. Emailed about fridge, air and large rocks for the stairs leading to water falling out. No response!!! That was disappointing. House is beautiful but not sure if will stay again because of the non communication.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patrick L.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott V.

Very Beautiful
Very nice and accommodating place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anthony K.

.
.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Peter M.

Beautiful, secluded, clean and spacious property with wonderful views and great amenities!
Beautiful, secluded, clean and spacious property with wonderful views and great amenities!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kevin H.

Capone Stay
The house is incredible as is the lake and property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Theresa D.

Great location
The house was beautiful. Our family had such a great time. Enjoyed the lake and peaceful surrounding's. House was clean and had everything we needed. The kids had fun. Local guest services responded quickly when power went out.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Extended family get away
Casa Maria was the perfect place for our extended family get-together! It was wonderful to have so many bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone to have their own private space to retreat to. The main floor had lots of common space to hang out in, a large dining table for games, and the kitchen was massive and so well equipped. Everything we needed and lots of space for all the cooks in the kitchen, and for those just hanging out and chatting with the cooks :) The view was incredible with so many windows overlooking the lake. My favorite part was the firepit. We had two beautiful nights in a row to enjoy the sounds of the loons, beautiful star gazing, and good conversation around the fire. While we were on property, the management company was very responsive. Would definitely recommend Casa Maria!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mike W.

Amazing house with all of the amenities! Great for multiple families!
The house was amazing and very clean. It was very well equipped with everything we needed. It was nice to have so many separate spaces for the kids and the adults to hang out. The 2 washers and dryers were a huge bonus, we were able to do our laundry daily so that it wasn't a burden when we returned home. We would definitely rent this house again! Thank you to the owners for allowing us to stay in their amazing home!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022